woods - eating and cooking

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littlebiglane

Native
May 30, 2007
1,651
1
52
Nr Dartmoor, Devon
Hi Guys,

I have done a quick search on the tinterweb and our site and can't find exactly what I am looking for. So I wonder some members can help.

I am only really interested in the more 'common' UK woodland trees and I am wondering which woods are food safe (FS) (ie for spoons or cups) and which woods are safe to cook directly (CD) over or in either case toxic (TX). I suppose there might even be a difference between seasoned and not seasoned, so a little note might note go amiss.

So...here is my list - can anyone who knows for sure copy and annotate and we might get to a full list.

Alder
Apple
Ash
Aspen (UK ?)
Beech
Birch (FS) (CD)
Blackthorn
Cedar
Cherry
Chestnut
Douglas Fir
Elder
Elm
Field Maple
Fir
Hawthorn
Hazel
Holly
Hornbeam
Horse Chestnut
Larch
Lime
Norway Maple
Oak
Pear
Pine (?)
Poplar
Rowan
Spruce (?)
Sweet Chestnut
Sycamore
Walnut
Whitebeam
Willow
Yew
Missing Any?
 
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jdlenton

Full Member
Dec 14, 2004
3,002
7
50
Northampton
Alder FS
Apple FS
Ash FS
Aspen (UK ?)
Beech
Birch (FS) (CD)
Blackthorn
Cedar Red CD but some are alergic to it incontact with food
Cherry
Chestnut CD
Douglas Fir
Elder
Elm
Field Maple FS
Fir
Hawthorn
Hazel CD
Holly
Hornbeam
Horse Chestnut
Larch
Lime FS CD
Norway Maple
Oak
Pear
Pine (?)
Poplar
Rowan FS
Spruce (?)
Sweet Chestnut
Sycamore
Walnut FS
Whitebeam
Willow
Yew TX
Missing Any?



right I've added some that i know I always feel a bit dodgey about handing out food safe advice so if we disagree then let me know and i'll correct my internal Data base
 
Last edited:

littlebiglane

Native
May 30, 2007
1,651
1
52
Nr Dartmoor, Devon
Agreed about handing out safety advice - lets debate any we are unsure of.

Alder FS
Apple FS
Ash FS
Beech
Birch (FS) (CD)
Blackthorn
Cedar Red CD but some are alergic to it incontact with food
Cherry
Chestnut (Sweet) CD
Douglas Fir
Elder
Elm
Field Maple FS
Fir
Hawthorn
Hazel CD
Holly
Hornbeam
Horse Chestnut
Larch
Laurel
Lime FS CD
Norway Maple
Oak
Pear
Pine
Plane
Poplar
Rowan FS
Rhododrendron
Spruce
Sycamore
Walnut FS
Whitebeam
Willow
Yew TX
Missing Any?
 
Last edited:

robin wood

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oct 29, 2007
3,054
1
derbyshire
www.robin-wood.co.uk
I am not just sure of the point, I mean larch, spruce and pine are "food safe" in as much as they will do you no harm but they would be far from first choice to make and food utensil from. Likewise cedar, some like cedar chips on the BBQ but it is quite a strong flavour that you may not wish to have in your tea say.

The only common UK timber that I recommend folk not to use is yew. I do not know about Rhody and Laurel. Leaves contain a certain amount of toxin not sure about the wood. All the rest can have a FS and CD.
 

jdlenton

Full Member
Dec 14, 2004
3,002
7
50
Northampton
I am not just sure of the point.

The only common UK timber that I recommend folk not to use is yew. I do not know about Rhody and Laurel. Leaves contain a certain amount of toxin not sure about the wood. All the rest can have a FS and CD.

the point being that some one like your good self has just given us knowledge that otherwise we would not have had access to. there is now a record here for other to look at and learngoodjob
 

maddave

Full Member
Jan 2, 2004
4,177
39
Manchester UK
This is a great idea

Alder FS
Apple (FS) (CD)
Ash (FS) (CD)
Beech (FS) (CD)
Birch (FS) (CD)
Blackthorn
Cedar Red (CD) (but some are alergic to it incontact with food)
Cherry (FS)
Chestnut (Sweet) (FS) (CD)
Douglas Fir
Elder
Elm
Field Maple (FS) (CD)
Fir (FS) (CD)
Hawthorn
Hazel CD
Holly
Hornbeam
Horse Chestnut
Larch
Laurel
Lime FS CD
Norway Maple (FS) (CD)
Oak (FS) (CD)
Pear (FS) (CD)
Pine (FS) (CD)
Plane
Poplar
Rowan (FS)
Rhododrendron (POSS TX)
Spruce (FS) (CD)
Sycamore (FS) (CD)
Walnut FS
Whitebeam
Willow (FS) (CD) (Note bark contains Salicilic Acid: Aspirin)
Yew TX
 

littlebiglane

Native
May 30, 2007
1,651
1
52
Nr Dartmoor, Devon
Alder FS
Apple (FS) (CD)
Ash (FS) (CD)
Beech (FS) (CD)
Birch (FS) (CD)
Blackthorn
Cedar Red (CD) (but some are alergic to it incontact with food)
Cherry (FS)
Chestnut (Sweet) (FS) (CD)
Douglas Fir
Elder
Elm
Field Maple (FS) (CD)
Fir (FS) (CD)
Hawthorn
Hazel CD
Holly
Hornbeam
Horse Chestnut
Laburnam (TX)
Larch
Laurel
Lime FS CD
Norway Maple (FS) (CD)
Oak (FS) (CD)
Pear (FS) (CD)
Pine (FS) (CD)
Plane
Poplar
Rowan (FS)
Rhododrendron (POSS TX)
Spruce (FS) (CD)
Sycamore (FS) (CD)
Walnut FS
Whitebeam
Willow (FS) (CD) (Note bark contains Salicilic Acid: Aspirin)
Yew TX
 

Ogri the trog

Mod
Mod
Apr 29, 2005
7,182
71
60
Mid Wales UK
I don't have anything to add to the list, though I have much to learn....

It does depend upon the cooking method when you say "cooked directly upon". I once witnessed a supposed long time woods visitor, thread a sausage onto the tip of an ash branch, without peeling any bark off and who looked very sheepish when I posed the question "Where do the birds go to the toilet?"

ATB

Ogri the trog
 
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Adze

Native
Oct 9, 2009
1,874
0
Cumbria
www.adamhughes.net
The only common UK timber that I recommend folk not to use is yew. I do not know about Rhody and Laurel. Leaves contain a certain amount of toxin not sure about the wood. All the rest can have a FS and CD.

Any idea of somewhere to start where I could find out Robin? I only ask because I acquired a billet of rhody recently and it carves beautifully - cheddar is a close approximation - and once dried it's lovely and light but still seems quite strong for.

Originally I only bothered with it as a bit of practice as I've carved precious little in the past which I intended keeping - would be nice to know if I can use the pair of spoons I've made from it or if I should just keep the big one to sail around in (it's bigger than the average spoon) :D

Cheers,
 

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